Osweiler was falling out of favor and frustration was high over his inability to move the offense, particularly his inability to cultivate anything downfield with impact receiver DeAndre Hopkins (wilting away in his contract year) and rookie speedster Will Fuller. That, coupled with issues reading the field and accumulating turnovers (tied for second in the NFL with 16 interceptions), left many players eager to see what Savage, a fourth-round pick in 2014, could do. Sticking with Osweiler would have risked alienating the other players, the sources said.
In reality, O'Brien may have made the move earlier if not for Savage's elbow injury, with the quarterback missing several weeks of practice. The coaching staff has been high on him for years, and he has a better knowledge of the offense and a bigger arm than Osweiler. Osweiler was pursued heavily by ownership with the coaching staff having a minimal role, sources said, and even with him due $37 million guaranteed through the 2017 season, the decision to go to Savage was highly popular in the locker room.